Media Policies

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center welcomes the opportunity to work with reporters. To facilitate that process, we have established the following guidelines to request information or interviews.

Please call the Office of Communications at 617-667-7300 to arrange all interviews, photo shoots or for other information. A communications staff member is available at all times by calling the hospital page operator at 617-667-4700.

Advance notice of on-site interviews is necessary so Media Relations staff can arrange for a room for interviews or shoots, notify the patient care areas involved, and line up the appropriate patients, family and staff.

To ensure patient confidentiality, privacy and appropriate sensitivity to all patients and families, reporters, film crews, and photographers must always be accompanied by a Media Relation staff person while on the BIDMC campus. We follow American Hospital Association guidelines in meeting patient privacy guidelines contained in the Health Insurance and Portability Act .

It is BIDMC policy not to allow photographs or grant interviews - on camera or by telephone - with patients who have been involved in high-profile accidents or news events during their hospital stay. Reporters may seek interviews only after patients have been discharged and returned home.